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About Lahore Zoo |
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 AN
INTRODUCTION
Established in 1872, the
Lahore Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world. It started as a small
aviary that was donated by Lal Mahundra Ram. Gradually it developed and
its animal collection also increased, today the Zoo houses about 1134
animals of 128 species including 768 birds of 75 species, 48 reptiles of
12 and 318 mammals of 41 species. It remained under the management of
Lahore Municipal Corporation from 1872 to 1923. Thereafter, its control
was given to Deputy Commissioner, Lahore until 1962. Then its management
was placed under the Livestock and Dairy Development Department. Finally
the management of Lahore Zoo was entrusted to the Wildlife & Parks
Department in 1982. During the period 1872 to 1982, it remained a small
entity with very little development taking place. Since its transfer to
Wildlife Department 1982 there have occurred a number of changes in
housing the exhibits, layout of buildings, landscape pattern,
administration etc. With these initiative/development it become
self-financing organization and now it is self-reliant. It is located in
the heart of the city and is easily accessible to the people belonging
to all walks of life.
Lahore Zoo can boast of a
collage of old and young trees; 450 trees of 45 species make the
environment worth living and visiting; a complete ecosystem with
different wild birds species, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and
the invertebrates.
MISSION
"To carry out ex-situ
conservation of species and to actively contribute to Pakistan 's
International commitment in terms of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, in addition to provide excellent educational and recreational
facilities".
Annually 3.1 Million
visitors visit this recreational and educational place, which is un-matchable
with any other park and zoos in Pakistan. It also provides research
facilities to college/universities students in Pakistan and Foreign
Organizations.
The Zoo has its own
constitution and managed by the Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department
through a Zoo Maintenance Committee with an advisory role. Zoo generates
its own funds through the gate income and leasing out of its premises,
therefore it is an autonomous institution and is not dependent on any
other government body for funds.
Lahore Zoo focuses on
conservation of endangered animals through its captive breeding
programmes and public education. Zoo has been very successful in
achieving both of these Targets and has bred rare and endangered local
species like Chinkara, Punjab urial, Hog deer, Nilgai and Black Bear and
also transferred many Wildlife species to other Zoos/ Wildlife
facilities throughout Pakistan.
The Zoo has always been
innovative in enhancing public education and involving its visitors in
animal related activities, Lahore Zoo Education Programme, Animal
Adoption Programme and Lahore Zoo Outreach Programme are the examples of
such endeavours. Through this programme, bilingual animal information
boards have been placed, guided tours are arranged for the school groups
and education material is also provided free of cost. A touch table has
been set up to allow children to touch animals' parts like skins, horns,
feathers and eggs.
The Animal Adoption
Programme provides general public an opportunity to make contribution
towards ex-situ conservation by bearing a part of the food expenditure
of the animals. This is an important way to spread awareness about
Wildlife and keeping the people involved in its conservation in addition
to financial support to self-financing Organization.
Zoo Outreach
Programme of Lahore Zoo is one of its kind for any Pakistani zoo. This
programme is funded by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP)
under Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGF).
This helps in conserving the highly endangered Indus River dolphins,
which is only found in Pakistan . This project conserves the dolphins in
their natural habitat by rescuing the stranded dolphins from the canals
and releasing them into the mainstream. This project is a joint effort
of the Lahore Zoo, Sindh Wildlife Department and WWF-Pakistan and has
rescued 28 dolphins. Not only rescue operation was carried out but
awareness has also been created in the local community through
distribution of literature to save endemic species of Pakistan.
To fulfil National and
International commitment, Lahore Zoo has close liaison with such
organizations i.e. IUCN, WWF and SAZARC etc. Under the auspices of South
Asian Zoo Association for Regional Cooperation, an organization by the
name of SAZARC was established in the year 1999 and since its inception
its meeting are being held regularly by rotation in member countries and
the host country is given the honour to chair it. Being an active member
of SAZARC this honour was bestowed upon this organization and Lahore Zoo
was the host of 5th annual meeting in 2004. By becoming a member of
SAZARC, Lahore Zoo has joined the International Community of Zoos, which
has opened new avenues of cooperation like Training and Practical
Management of Zoo personals.
Source: official site of
Lahore Zoo (2012)
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